The European Commission avoids pronouncing on Catalonia
El País manipulates declarations from the spokesperson of the European Commission
The spokesperson of the European Commission, Margaritis
Schinas, was today asked by a journalist from El País, Claudi Pérez,
whether the position of the current presidency of the EC, with
Jean-Claude Juncker, on whether a region of a member state of the EU
becoming independent would remain in the EU, had changed with respect to
the position established in 2004 by Romano Prodi. At no time did the
journalist use the word ‘Catalonia’ or relate the question to Catalonia.
Schinas, was today asked by a journalist from El País, Claudi Pérez,
whether the position of the current presidency of the EC, with
Jean-Claude Juncker, on whether a region of a member state of the EU
becoming independent would remain in the EU, had changed with respect to
the position established in 2004 by Romano Prodi. At no time did the
journalist use the word ‘Catalonia’ or relate the question to Catalonia.
The spokesperson’s answer was, ‘Yes. I can confirm it.
This is still president Juncker’s position’. Then the journalist from El
País asked whether this meant that the region would be excluded
immediately, once more without mentioning Catalonia at any time, and
Schinas said, ‘I can confirm the president’s position. The European
Commission continues to maintain what was established by president Prodi
in 2004. He said on different occasions that if part of a member state
stops forming a part because it becomes independent, the treaties will
no longer apply to this territory and the new independent territory
would become a third state and could apply to join the EU. This was the
position of the Commission in 2004 and is the position that Juncker
recalled during the campaign and the position he believes in today.’
This is still president Juncker’s position’. Then the journalist from El
País asked whether this meant that the region would be excluded
immediately, once more without mentioning Catalonia at any time, and
Schinas said, ‘I can confirm the president’s position. The European
Commission continues to maintain what was established by president Prodi
in 2004. He said on different occasions that if part of a member state
stops forming a part because it becomes independent, the treaties will
no longer apply to this territory and the new independent territory
would become a third state and could apply to join the EU. This was the
position of the Commission in 2004 and is the position that Juncker
recalled during the campaign and the position he believes in today.’
